So, it’s 16 days before the season-opener. Do you know who your quarterback is?

The 2006 season is dripping with quarterback intrigue around the SEC. Halfway through August, the picture is becoming only slightly less murky.

Most schools have been through the first round of scrimmaging. The results have been underwhelming.

Georgia coach Mark Richt couldn’t eliminate any of his four candidates after the opening scrimmage.

"I’m getting kind of tired of it,’’ he said. "I’m kind of wanting it to jump out at me, but it hasn’t done that.’’

Joe Tereshinski still heads the depth chart followed by Blake Barnes, Joe Cox and ballyhooed freshman Matthew Stafford.

Richt wants to pare the field to two after Friday’s scrimmage.

Uga VI and Larry Munson could rotate against Western Kentucky but going to South Carolina on Sept. 9 is another story.

At Arkansas, Robert Johnson was named the starter Wednesday night by Houston Nutt.

Casey Dick, who beat out Johnson eight games into the 2005 season, has spent most of his time in a doctor’s office addressing a lower-back injury and will not be ready for the season opener Sept. 2 against Southern California.

Super freshman Mitch Mustain, meanwhile, won’t be thrown under the Trojan horses on opening day.

That leaves Johnson.

"Robert’s having a good camp,’’ receiver Marcus Monk told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "He’s settled down and you can tell he’s matured and put last year behind him.’’

As for Kentucky’s quarterback derby, incumbent Andre Woodson is ahead of Curtis Pulley going down the stretch, but only by a head. A photo finish is possible.

LSU held a short scrimmage Tuesday that was closed to the media. Details are spare other than that JaMarcus Russell flipped a couple of TD passes in situational goal-line scenarios.

Presumably, Russell is fending off Matt Flynn. Redshirt freshman Ryan Perrilloux, meanwhile, vowed he’s "here to stay’’ in hopes of cooling transfer rumors.

At South Carolina, true freshman Chris Smelley has leaped past former Maryville High School star Cade Thompson into the back-up job.

Blake Mitchell is the returning starter but he’s probably starting to look over his shoulder, so impressive has Smelley gotten out of the chute.

There’s no mystery about who’s the man at Ole Miss, even though it took Brent Schaeffer forever to actually get to Ole Miss.

Schaeffer has looked the part. He threw three TD passes in his first four scrimmage possessions.

Not bad for one week on campus.

"He’s done it before,’’ offensive coordinator Dan Werner told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, alluding to Schaeffer’s 2004 experience at Tennessee. "You can tell he’s got a lot of knowledge of the game and has good leadership qualities.’’

At Florida, freshman Tim Tebow’s perceived threat to senior Chris Leak has yet to materialize. Leak has gotten good reviews so far.

So has John Parker Wilson at Alabama. He has thrown with zip and no serious competition in sight to succeed Brodie Croyle.

Jay Cutler’s successor at Vanderbilt is still to be determined. Chris Nickson works first with the No. 1 offense, but Arizona transfer Richard Kovalcheck and MacKenzi Adams aren’t going away.

Finally, Tennessee fans should keep an eye on Memphis. Marty Hankins looks like he’ll win the job after transferring from Southeastern Louisiana, where he threw for 7,777 yards and 65 touchdowns in two seasons playing for Hal Mumme.

Other media contributed to this report. Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.